Peter

UK: 'Peter', 'peter': /ˈpiːtə/

US: /ˈpitɚ/

US: 'Peter', 'peter': (pē′tər)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Peter / ˈpiːtə/ noun

1. Saint. Also called: Simon Peter. died ?67 ad, a fisherman of Bethsaida, who became leader of the apostles and is regarded by Roman Catholics as the first pope; probably martyred at Rome. Feast day: June 29 or Jan 18
2. either of two epistles traditionally ascribed to Peter (in full The First Epistle and The Second Epistle of Peter)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pe•ter¹ /ˈpitɚ/   v. [no object] Usually, peter out.

1. to tire;
   become exhausted:
   In the last lap of the race she just petered out.
2. to grow less or diminish gradually and stop:
   The hot water petered out.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pe•ter¹  (pē′tər), v.i. peter out, 

1. to diminish gradually and stop;
   dwindle to nothing:
   The hot water always peters out in the middle of my shower.
2. to tire;
   exhaust (usually used as a past participle):
   I'm petered out after that walk.

• 1805–15, in sense "put an end to''; 1860–65 for def. 1; origin, originally uncertain

pe•ter²  (pē′tər), n. Slang (vulgar).

1. Slang Terms penis.

• generic use of the proper name 1900–05

pe•ter³  (pē′tər), n. [Whist.]

1. Games a signal for an echo.

• from blue peter 1935–40

Pe•ter  (pē′tər), n. 

1. Bible, Biographical Also called Simon Peter. died a.d.67?, one of the 12 apostles and the reputed author of two of the Epistles.
2. Bible either of these two Epistles in the New Testament, I Peter or II Peter.
3. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter P.
4. a male given name.

• Greek Pétros stone, translation of Syriac kēfā
• Latin
• Old English Petrus Middle English

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Lom•bard  (lom′bärd, -bərd, lum′-), n. 

1. Biographical, Place Names a native or inhabitant of Lombardy.
2. Biographical, Ancient History a member of an ancient Germanic tribe that settled in N Italy.
3. Place Names a banker or moneylender.

adj. 

4. Place Names, Ancient History Also, Lom•bar′dic. of or pertaining to the Lombards or Lombardy.

Lom•bard  (lom′bärd, -bərd, lum′-), n. 

1. Carole (Jane Alice Peters), 1909?–42, U.S. film actress.
2. Peter (Petrus Lombardus), c1100–64?, Italian theologian: bishop of Paris 1159–64?.
3. a city in NE Illinois, near Chicago. 37,295.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

peter / ˈpiːtə/ verb

1. (intr; followed by out or away) to fall (off) in volume, intensity, etc, and finally cease

Etymology: 19th Century: of unknown origin

peter / ˈpiːtə/ noun

1. a safe, till, or cash box
2. a prison cell
3. 
   a slang word for penis

Etymology: 17th Century (meaning a case): from the name Peter